Brush head for dispensing and applying foam detergent



S- D. HULSH June 23, 1964 BRUSH HEAD FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING FOAMDETERGENT Filed March 14, 1963 INVENTOR. S HELDON D. H ULSH 8% ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,137,885 BRUSH HEAD FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYINGFOAM DETERGENT Sheldon David Hulsh, New York, N.Y., assignor toJerelaydon, Ina, Clifton, N.J., a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 14,1963, Ser. No. 265,104 9 Claims. (Cl. 15-552) This invention relatesgenerally to foam applying brush heads, and more particularly relates toa brush carrying device detachably securable to the working end of anaerosol type dispensing container in such a manner that foamed detergentproducible from the container is passed outward into the brush forapplication and working by the latter as a cleaner for upholstery andthe like.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel brush headdispensing and applying cap unit which is detachably securable to thevalve end of an aerosol package of a foamable detergent.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel brush headdispensing and applying cap unit as aforesaid in which the brush head isdetachable from the remainder of the cap structure for separate cleaningand replacement as may be desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel brush headdispensing and applying cap unit detachably securable to an aerosolpackage of foamable detergent which may be readily detached from theaerosol package when the latter is exhausted and quickly secured to afull replacement aerosol package for continued use.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel brush headdispensing and applying cap unit for an aerosol package of foamabledetergent which is so securable to the aerosol container that the latteris converted into a manipulating handle for the brush head.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become clear froma reading of the following specification in conjunction with anexamination of the appended draw-.

ings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a vertical cross sectional View through the brushhead dispensing cap unit according to the invention showing the variouscomponent parts in operative assembled relationship as they would bewhen secured upon the valve end of an aerosol dispensing package, asshown in phantom outline, the vertical section of FIGURE 1 being takenas illustrated along the line 11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the brush head dispensing cap unitshown in FIGURE 1 with the dispenser button discharge tube omitted forpurposes of clarity;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a reduced scale side elevational exploded view ofthe brush head dispensing cap unit with the valve end of a foameddetergent aerosol container in underlying position to the dispenserbutton discharge tube;

FIGURE 4 illustrates in rear perspective the detachable brush head unitof the cap structure;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the dispenser button discharge tubeshown in section in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a portion of thebrush structure and dispensing cap front wall illustrating the positivesnap lock therebetween as would be seen when viewed along the line 6-6of FIG- URE 2.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like referencecharacters.

Considering first FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it is observed that the brush headdispensing cap according to the invention includes three basic parts, acap shell 16, detachable brush 11 and a combination dispenser buttondischarge tube 12. The cap shell 10 may be best described as hav-3,137,885 Patented June 2 1964 ing a frusto-conical portion 13 closed atthe top by a skewed wall 14 and having an open bottom terminated in askirt 15, the top Wall 14 slanting upward from the rear to the front ofthe cap shell 10. The front portion of the frusto-conical portion 13 iswedged outward to form a flat generally rectangular front wall 16 whichslopes rearward as it extends upward from the top of the bottom skirt 15to a junction with the top wall 14, the sides of the front wall 16 beingjoined to the forward terminations of the frusto-conical portion 13 bygenerally triangularly shaped side Walls 17. Extending forward about theperiphery of the rectangular front wall 16 is a head 18, and the frontwall is apertured to appropriately receive formations projectingrearwardly from the brush 11 backing member, as will be described.

Extending upward for a distance from the lower edge of the front wall 16are a pair of front reinforcing and camming ribs 19 somewhat laterallyof and disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical center lineof the rectangular front wall 16. Similarly, a pair of side reinforcingcamming ribs 20 and rear reinforcing and camming ribs 21 extend inwardand upward from the inside surface of the frusto-conical portion 13 ofthe cap shell 10, the rear ribs 21 being substantially parallel to anddisposed respectively somewhat laterally outward of the front ribs 19.The rear wall of the frusto-conical portion 13 is rectangularlyapertured as at 22, the aperture 22 extending for a distance upward fromapproximately the vertical mid point of the shell 10 and being of awidth equal to the lateral spacing between the rear reinforcing cammingribs 21. The lower portion 23 of the rear wall region of frusto-conicalportion 13 which lies between the rear ribs 21 is also wedged rearwardlyinto a substantially vertical position so that the cap shell 10 may bemoved vertically downward for locking engagement with the top bead 24 ofthe aerosol can 25 without physical interference with the dispenserbutton discharge tube 12 which is detachably fixed upon the dischargetip 26 of the aerosol can valve 27.

The cap shell 10 is flexible upon the aerosol can 25 by moving the shellvertically downward so that the can head 24 is first projected into theslot 28 cut through the front of the bottom skirt 15 immediately belowthe front wall bead 18 and then moving the rear end downward until theinwardly offset shoulder 29 which extends about the upper edge of thebottom skirt 15 forwardly from the rear thereof is snapped under the cantop bead 24. A certain degree of resistance to this dovmward movement ofthe shell 10 is provided by the reinforcing and camming ribs 19, 20 and21 which bear against the rounded upper portion of the can 25 in suchmanner as to tend to upwardly shift the shell 10. Thus, when theshoulder 29 has snapped under the head 24 the upward camming action ofthe ribs firmly locks the cap in position upon the can.

The detachable brush 11, shown separately in FIG- URE 4, includes a backmember 31 from the upper end of which extends a pair of rearwardly andupwardly turned hooks 32 and from the lower end of which extend asimilarly shaped and positioned pair of downwardly turned hooks 33.Positioned substantially in line with and between the upper and lowerbooks 32 and 33 are a pair of snap buttons 34, and disposed laterallysubstantially mid way between the snap buttons 34 is a formation havinga pair of triangular side walls 35 and a bridging top wall 36 extendingrearwardly from the back member 31 to form an inverted chute terminatingat its forward end in a rectangular opening 37 through the back member31. Secured to and covering the front face of the back member 31 exceptin the region 38 in front of the rectangular opening 37 are a pluralityof bristles 39 which form the brushing unit, the bristle free region 38being provided to allow passage through and into the brush of the foameddetergent to be dispensed from the aerosol can 25.

As indicated by the sectioning, the back member 31 is made of plasticand is of a type having some resilience thereto so that the back may beflexed to first engage the hooks 32 through the corresponding slotopenings cut through the front wall 16 and to then project the lowerhooks 33 into their corresponding front wall openings. The chuteformation then moves rearward through a cutout therefor and the brushmay be pressed firmly against the front wall in the region of the snapbuttons 34 to cause the latter to pop through properly positionedreceiving holes, this latter detail being shown in FIG- URE 6.

The dispenser button discharge tube 12 is best seen in the showing ofFIGURES 1 and and is observed to include a vertical cylindrical part 40having a bore 41 extending upwardly from the bottom to a dead ended top,a horizontal spout 42 having a passage 43 extending rearwardly from thespout tip and opening into the upper end of the bore 41, and ahorizontally rearwardly extending operator 41 terminating in a rear wall45 adapted to be finger engaged for dispensing of the foamed detergent.As best seen in FIGURE 1, the lower end of the bore 41 is helicallygrooved as at 46 to grasp the spring 47 secured to and disposed aboutthe base of the aerosol valve discharge tip 26.

The unit is assembled to the aerosol can by first pressing the dispenserbutton discharge tube 12 downward onto the aerosol can valve dischargetip 26, as best seen in FIGURE 1. The cap shell 10 with brush 11assembled thereto is now moved vertically downward over the dispenserbutton discharge tube 12 so that the end of the horizontal spout 42 isdisposed with its side walls between the triangular side walls of thebrush unit and with the rear end of the horizontal operator 44 disposedwithin the rectangular aperture 22 at the rear of the frusto-conicalportion 13.

Lateral pressure exerted upon the rear wall 45 of the dispenser button12 causes the cylindrical part and spout 42 to move to the left inpivotal fashion about the aerosol can valve 27 to thereby open the valve27 in the usual manner and cause the foamed detergent to pass upwardinto the bore 41 and then outward into the bristle free region 38 of thebrush 11 through the spout 42 which now occupies the position shown inbroken line. As Will be observed, the cross sectional area of the tip ofthe horizontal spout 42 is of substantially the same size as therectangular opening 37 of the inverted chute extending rearward from thebrush back member 31, so that the foamed detergent being ejected fromthe spout 42 cannot back up and fill the inside of the cap shell 10. Theejected foamed detergent is of course then workable on and into thearticle to be cleaned by means of the brush bristles 39.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularlyillustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variationsand modifications of the same may now occur from time to time to thosepersons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essentialscope or spirit of my invention, and accordingly it is intended to claimthe same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A brush head dispensing and applying cap unit detachably securable tothe valve end of an aerosol package of foamable detergent, comprising incombination, a hollow cap shell having a top wall and side walls andapertured front and rear wall portions, said side walls and front andrear wall portions extending downward from the said top wall to definean open bottom, said cap shell carrying means located proximate to theopen bottom thereof for detachably securing the shell to the valve endof the aerosol package, said apertured front wall having extendinglaterally therefrom a plurality of bristles forming a brush having abristle-free region at the location of the front wall aperture; and adispenser button discharge tube having a vertically extending hollowpart detachably securable upon the aerosol package valve dis charge tipand enclosing the discharge opening thereof, an open ended dischargespout extending laterally from said hollow part to said front wallaperture and having a passage therethrough connecting the dischargespout open end to the discharge opening of the aerosol package valvedischarge tip when said hollow part is secured upon the valve dischargetip, and a finger workable operator coupled to and extending laterallyfrom said hollow part in the opposite direction from that of saiddischarge spout to a terminating end positioned proximate to the rearWall aperture of said shell, whereby, when the terminating end of saidoperator is pushed laterally, said aerosol package valve is opened andfoamed detergent flows therefrom through said hollow part to saiddischarge spout and into the bristle free region of said brush throughsaid apertured front wall.

2. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid means located proximate to the open bottom of said cap shell fordetachably securing the cap shell to the valve end of the aerosolpackage includes, a radially inwardly offset shoulder extending forwardabout the inside of said shell from the rear thereof at a distancesomewhat above the open bottom of said shell and adapted to snap inwardunder a head on the aerosol package when the shell is moved downwardover the upper end of the aerosol package, and a plurality of cammingelements extending radially inward from the inside of said shell andpositioned somewhat above the aforesaid inwardly olfset shoulder whichresist the downward movement of said shell over the upper end of theaerosol package by physically engaging the latter, whereby, when saidshoulder snaps inward under the bead as aforesaid the carnming elementsbias the shell upward to strongly engage the shoulder with the bead andprevent relative rotation between the shell and the aerosol package.

3. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe said plurality of bristles forming said brush are secured to abacking member having an aperture therethrough which defines the saidbristle free region, said backing member being detachably secured tosaid shell side wall with the aperture of said backing member alignedwith the aforesaid shell side wall aperture.

4. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe haid plurality of bristles forming said brush are secured to abacking member having an aperture therethrough which defines the saidbristle free region, a guide structure extending rearwardly from thebacking member at the top and side edges of the aperture therethrough,said backing member being detachably secured to said shell side wallwith the aperture of said backing member aligned with the shell sidewall aperture and with said guide structure projecting rearward throughand beyond the aforesaid shell side wall aperture and being disposed inoverlying and opposite side lateral relation to the end of the saiddischarge spout of the aforesaid foam discharging device.

5. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe said plurality of bristles forming said brush are secured to abacking member having an aperture therethrough which defines the saidbristle free region, a guide structure extending rearwardly from thebacking member at the top and side edges of the aperture therethrough,said backing member being detachably secured to said shell side wallwith the aperture of said backing member aligned with the shell sidewall aperture and with said guide structure projecting rearward throughand beyond the aforesaid shell side wall aperture and being disposed inoverlying and opposite side lateral relation to the end of the saiddischarge spout of the aforesaid foam discharging device, thecross-sectional size and shape of the end of said discharge spout beingsuch that it just fills the aperture through said backing member whensaid operating means is worked.

6. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 furtherincluding a guide structure extending inwardly from the inside of saidcap shell sidewall at the top and side edges of the aperturetherethrough and being disposed in overlying and opposite side lateralrelation to the end of the said discharge spout of the aforesaid foamdischarging device to guide the discharge spout end into the cap shellside wall aperture when the said operating means is operated to open theaerosol package valve.

7. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe discharge spout end proximate to the cap shell sidewall aperture ispositioned somewhat upward and inward from the aperture center towardthe cap shell top wall, and wherein said cap shell further includes aguide structure extending inwardly and upwardly from the inside of saidcap shell side wall at the top and side edges of the aperturetherethrough and being disposed in overlying and opposite side lateralrelation to the end of the said discharge spout of the aforesaid foamdischarging device to guide the discharge spout end downward and outwardinto the cap shell side wall aperture when the said operating means isoperated to open the aerosol package valve.

8. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe discharge spout end proximate to the cap shell side wall aperture ispositioned somewhat upward and inward from the aperture center towardthe cap shell top wall, and wherein said cap shell further includes aguide structure extending inwardly and upwardly from the inside of saidcap shell side wall at the top and side edges of the aperturetherethrough and being disposed in overlying and opposite side lateralrelation to the end of the said discharge spout of the aforesaid foamdischarging device to guide the discharge spout end downward and outwardinto the cap shell side wall aperture when the said operating means isoperated to open the aerosol package valve, the cross-sectional size andshape of the end of said discharge spout being such that it just fillsthe cap shell side wall aperture.

9. The foam dispensing and applying unit as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe discharge spout is formed of flexible material and its end proximateto the cap shell sidewall aperture is positioned somewhat upward andinward from the aperture center toward the cap shell top Wall, andwherein said cap shell further includes a guide structure extendinginwardly and upwardly from the inside of said cap shell side wall at theperiphery of the aperture therethrough including an upper guide disposedin overlying relation to the end of said discharge spout and lateralguides disposed on opposite sides of the said discharge spout, saidguides being effective to cause the discharge spout end to move downwardand outward into the cap shell side Wall aperture when the saidoperating means is operated to open the aerosol package valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,849,737 Piccinini et a1. Sept. 2, 1958

1. A BRUSH HEAD DISPENSING AND APPLYING CAP UNIT DETACHABLY SECURABLE TOTHE VALVE END OF AN AEROSOL PACKAGE OF FOAMABLE DETERGENT, COMPRISING INCOMBINATION, A HOLLOW CAP SHELL HAVING A TOP WALL AND SIDE WALLS ANDAPERTURED FRONT AND REAR WALL PORTIONS, SAID SIDE WALLS AND FRONT ANDREAR WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM THE SAID TOP WALL TO DEFINEAN OPEN BOTTOM, SAID CAP SHELL CARRYING MEANS LOCATED PROXIMATE TO THEOPEN BOTTOM THEREOF FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE SHELL TO THE VALVE ENDOF THE AEROSOL PACKAGE, SAID APERTURED FRONT WALL HAVING EXTENDINGLATERALLY THEREFROM A PLURALITY OF BRISTLES FORMING A BRUSH HAVING ABRISTLE-FREE REGION AT THE LOCATION OF THE FRONT WALL APERTURE; AND ADISPENSER BUTTOM DISCHARGE TUBE HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING HOLLOWPART DETACHABLY SECURABLE UPON THE AEROLSOL PACKAGE VALVE DISCHARGE TIPAND ENCLOSING THE DISCHARGE OPENING THEREOF, AN OPEN ENDED DISCHARGESPOUT EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID HOLLOW PART TO SAID FRONT WALLAPERTURE AND HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH CONNECTING THE DISCHARGESPOUT OPEN END TO THE DISCHARGE OPENING OF THE AEROSOL PACKAGE VALVEDISCHARGE TIP WHEN SAID HOLLOW PART IS SECURED UPON THE VALVE DISCHARGETIP, AND A FINGER WORKABLE OPERATOR COUPLED TO AND EXTENDING LATERALLYFROM SAID HOLLOW PART IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THAT OF SAIDDISCHARGE SPOUT TO A TERMINATING END POSITIONED PROXIMATE TO THE REARWALL APERTURE OF SAID SHELL, WHEREBY, WHEN THE TERMINATING END OF SAIDOPERATOR IS PUSHED LATERALLY, SAID AEROSOL PACKAGE VALVE IS OPENED ANDFOAMED DETERGENT FLOWS THEREFROM THROUGH SAID HOLLOW PART TO SAIDDISCHARGE SPOUT AND INTO THE BRISTLE FREE REGION OF SAID BRUSH THROUGHSAID APERTURED FRONT WALL.